VICTORIA - Since the age of six, Bruce Wilson's life has revolved around soccer. Now 70, the University of Victoria men's soccer coach of 34 years is ready to pass the torch and watch from the sidelines. 

Coming off the heels of a successful professional soccer career, Wilson wasn't sure what his next steps would be. With a degree in education, teaching was the logical next step until he got a call that would change the trajectory of his life forever.

Over three decades later, Wilson is retiring with a Hall of Fame resume filled with three U SPORTS National Championship titles, seven Canada West banners, 10 Canada West Coach of the Year awards, and three U SPORTS Coach of the Year awards.

"Bruce Wilson is an iconic Canadian soccer figure who has made a tremendous impact in his time at the University of Victoria. Bruce cares deeply about the game of soccer in Canada and was a passionate supporter of the university game in our country. He has contributed positively to many UVic student-athletes in his tenure as our Vikes head coach and he has done so with strong leadership and an unrelenting commitment to championing his players, his university and the game he loves," said Senior Director of Athletics and Recreation, Clint Hamilton.

"Coach Wilson's accomplishments are many, but perhaps his greatest legacy will be the many Vikes alumni whose lives he impacted and continue to influence to this day in building such strong affinity to UVic. A true champion, Bruce Wilson's legacy at UVic will live on for many years, and we are deeply appreciative and indebted to him for all that he has done in leading our Vikes soccer program."

Wilson started playing soccer at six years old with the North Burnaby Eagles of the BC Youth Soccer Program. He went on to take seven provincial championships before going pro in 1974— the Vancouver Whitecaps inaugural season. Considered one of Canada's all-time top defenders, Wilson holds the "ironman record" for playing 161 consecutive games in his eleven-year, 275-game career.

From 1974-84, Wilson played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) for a variety of teams, including the Vancouver Whitecaps (1974-77), Chicago Sting (1978-79), New York Cosmos (1980), Toronto Blizzard (1981-84). Wilson was named NASL "Player of the Year" as a defender in 1978. He was selected to the NASL all-star team seven times overall and was the first Canadian-born player to be selected.

Wilson captained the Canadian national soccer team for ten years and accumulated more caps (51) for the national side than any other player upon his retirement. He helped Canada reach the quarter-finals at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, which remains Canada's best-ever men's Olympic soccer result.

The highlight of his athletic career was leading Canada to the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. This remains the first and only time Canada has qualified to play in the World Cup. He retired from play after the Mexico World Cup before joining the Vikes a year later in 1987.

As a coach, Wilson's accomplishments are many, but for him, none are as important as watching the student-athletes succeed in their academic pursuits and go on to become proud UVic alumni.

"I've never had a bad day at work," said Wilson.

"Coming off a pro career where there was so much pressure, UVic has been a great place to work. I wasn't sure what I was going to do after I finished playing, but once I got into it, it's exactly what I wanted to do with my life, and I've never had a bad day."

"For most of these athletes, this will be the highest level of soccer they will play, and it's really good quality competitive soccer. I'm proud of how well we've competed over the years against some really talented teams in our conference," continued Wilson.

Wilson was set to retire prior to COVID-19, but decided to stay on for a final year and take one last run at a national championship with the senior class who'd been with the program for the last five years including Isaac Koch, Evan Libke, Jack Hill, and Evan Stefanek.

"It's been an honour playing for someone who is such a legend in Canadian soccer. I wouldn't have wanted to play for anyone else. Bruce has been someone I look up to and admire. It was pretty cool to win the league in his final year. He's been my coach from when I was 18 until now at 24, and he's been a part of some of my most significant 'growing up' years," said Isaac Koch, who was named a 2021 U SPORTS All-Canadian.

"Off the pitch, Bruce is a really funny guy; he always has us laughing at training and having a good time. I couldn't have asked for a better experience at UVic, and Bruce was a massive part of that," continued Koch.

In 1990 Wilson was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame, in 2000 into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, and 2003 into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame. In 2004 he was given the FIFA Centennial Award of Merit, and in 2012 he was named to the Canadian Soccer Association's All-Time Canada XI team.

There is no doubt Wilson will forever live on in the UVic history books as well. After 34 years, Wilson has cemented himself as a Vikes coaching legend. 

As his professional career comes to an end, Wilson says he will miss practicing five days a week and seeing the athletes but looks forward to spending more time with his family.